In the call for papers for this conference, contributors are invited to discuss myths on safety in the information society. One of the myths that are listed in the invitation is the idea that compliance to rules ensures safety. The term "myth" can have different meanings. In this paper, we will use the term "myth" about stories that expresses a partial truth about a phenomenon. We do not challenge the idea that compliance to rules contributes to safety in many contexts. However, we want to argue that it is necessary to go beyond rule compliance to ensure safety and to understand how safety and accidents come by. The purpose of this paper is therefore to promote the complementary myth that operational managers build safety by creating favourable environmental conditions for safety work.
Select theme